Finding Dory Spoiler-Free and Spoiler Review
Non-Spoiler Portion
Until I saw this film, I have not seen a Pixar sequel that is as good or better than the original since Toy Story 2. Cars 2 was a bit adrift in terms of its connection with the original, and Monsters University came close. But after having seen Finding Dory, Pixar has made a non-Toy Story sequel that is an equal to its predecessor. Not better, but an equal. We'll talk about why it isn't better in the Spoiler portion. But without spoilers here's what I can say. This is a fantastic Pixar film. It builds upon the original, with expanding the ocean and land. We get to see some old favorites and new characters that are introduced in the sequel. Granted, there were some odd things that probably weren't necessary in the film, but we'll get in depth to that in the spoiler portion. Now should you see this in 3D? I didn't see this in 3D, however with how good everything looked, 3D might enhance that so it's your decision to whether you think that is something you want to do. Now let's dive deeper (pun intended) into spoiler territory.
Spoiler Portion
Minor Film Problem
Before we talk character by character I want to address the little problems this movie has that doesn't make the film be better than the original. One of the things that kept the movie back was it jumping back and forth from Dory interacting with new characters to Marlin and Nemo trying to find Dory to flashbacks of Dory's childhood. The story was just out of order that way. I would've just had a segment of the film be about Dory's childhood and then continue with the story. But by doing it that way the film was presented, it hurt the story pacing of the film. I appreciated the flashbacks but whenever they would cut to a flashback it slowed the momentum of the story.
Characters
Ellen Degeneres as Dory
First things first, I loved Baby Dory. Starting out the film with Baby Dory was awesome, but also sad too. I was glad that even as a baby she knew that she had short-term memory loss and that she was smart enough to find the tough question. What if I forget about you? Yes, it's kinda hard to laugh with Dory, when such a sad thing has happened to her. It was very emotional to see her left alone and that she has been looking for something all her life. Although, how would she know she was looking for something, when she doesn't know what that something is? Probably, because again she knows she has short-term memory loss. Anyways, I loved when she was at the aquarium interacting new characters like Hank, Destiny, or Bailey. She totally got Hank though with the octopus has three hearts you could be a little nicer discussion, although again how did she remember that, because they saw that sign after that discussion. I laughed in the beginning, when Dory got confused and started talking about how a child is made, but before she could she was interrupted by Mr Ray. That was comedy gold. I loved her look when she found her parents. That look of satisfaction melted my heart. She had this upbeat attitude to her. I liked when she was looking at the aquarium map and was like "Wow! There is so many things here. How could you do that all in one day?" I agreed with her on that one. In my opinion, Dory was more than capable to be the star of her own movie.
Ed O'Neill as Hank
I didn't like Hank at first, but as the movie progressed I liked him more and more. He reminded me a bit of Randell from Monsters Inc, with the way he camouflaged with objects and then his eye movements gave it away. He was funny at some points and I liked the way he moved his tentacles. When Dory was giving him directions both in the stroller and the van it was comedy gold. Again the three hearts line the two characters had was great, and I didn't know an octopus had three hearts. It almost was like the film was teaching you things, while entertaining you. For a moment in the film, it looked like there was a romance between the two, but that went away after I thought about it. At the end, I realized where his mouth and it sort of looked a bit weird. I'm glad he decided to come to the ocean with Dory though. Overall, I liked the character that was given too him. He had an excellent dose of humor, and a bit of drama that was a great partner to Dory's upbeat attitude.
Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton as Charlie and Jenny
Aside from being fish, Charlie and Jenny acted like real parents. I loved that they were very forgiving and patient with Dory forgetting things all the time. They actually explained some things that Dory showed us in the first film. There was also drama with the parents. They were really dreading the day that Dory would forget them and they displayed that fear perfectly to where I got to care. I had no idea though that they lived in the aquarium though. I thought they lived in the ocean. I'm surprised that they were in that kelp forrest though. When Dory first went there, she was calling out for them that I'm surprised they didn't hear her. I'm glad they filled in the blanks of what Dory showed us in Finding Nemo, with the song Just Keep Swimming being a song she was taught. Together, they were really great parents.
Albert Brooks and Hayden Rolence as Marlin and Nemo
After I saw the film, I read and watched other people's reviews and most of them said that Marlin and Nemo shouldn't have come along on this journey. I think they were great. However, I think Marlin went backwards from where we saw him at the end of Nemo. He seemed to go back to the worrisome Marlin we saw in the first film and in this film having to relearn that lesson again. As for Nemo, I knew that someone would have to replace Alexander Gould, because at the time of the first film he was nine. He actually had a cameo in the film, which we'll talk about later. I liked Hayden Rolence as Nemo, he did a great job with picking up where Alexander Gould left off. As with the first film, Nemo is unintentionally teaching Marlin some lessons about life. I'm glad they came along, but there were a few things that were a bit familiar with the story of the two characters that we already saw in the first film.
Kaitlin Olson as Destiny
Destiny didn't have a big part to play in the film. She did have great moments in the film. It was great to know that Dory had a friend, whilst in the aquarium. I kinda figured that Destiny was the one who taught her to speak whale. I didn't understand how she got her vision problems, which I would've liked an explanation to her condition. She was a tad bit unneeded seeing as how she didn't have much to do. The same can be said for the next character.
Ty Burrell as Bailey
Now I'm not familiar with any of Ty Burell's works, but I can say he worked and didn't work at some points. His echolocation looked pretty awesome, I'll say that, but other than that he wasn't needed. He served the story well with what he was given. The actor did an okay job, but the character was not needed other than his echolocation towards the end of the film.
Idris Elba and Dominic West as Fluke and West
Now I know these two had less work to do than Bailey did, but they were so darn funny. Idris Elba has been dominating voice-over this year. First with Chief Bogo in Zootopia, than Shere Khan in The Jungle Book, and now here in Finding Dory, all Disney films. I love Idris Elba's accent. It made him all the more funny. Dominic West was great too, but I'm not familiar with him than I am with Idris Elba. The pair really worked well. I loved that glaring eyed sea otter, who would try and fail to get on their rock to lay on. Although, in the end, it was funny when the two left and he took the rock and they said "Have you lost your marbles?" That was funny. They really brought the comedic relief.
Surprises and Old Favorites: Mr Ray/Crush/Sigourney Weaver/John Ratzenberger/Alexander Gould/Tank Gang
Now in this subject we will talk about the fun surprises in the film and the old favorites that returned for a second go. Let's start with the old favorites that came back. Mr Ray and Crush were in the film for a little amount of the film. Other critics poked the film with the fact that crossing the ocean was such a gargantuan task in the first one, yet in this one it takes like two or three minutes. Now as for Sigourney Weaver as herself. I had a hard time getting used to her in the beginning, because it's an obvious meta joke, but as the film progressed, I got used to her. She was just there. She had no purpose in the film. Alexander Gould, the first Nemo, came back as a cameo as he voices of the trucks drivers, who is hit with a review mirror. This time around they really hid John Ratzenberger's cameo. Normally, he's an easy voice to spot, but this time, he's not a stand out. I went home and found out it is the crab husband, Bill, who is the one cutting the grass, while his wife is explaining to Dory all the blue-tangs were moved to Quarantine. Last in the film, but certainly not last in my opinion, is the Tank Gang. Yes, William Defoe and company came back at the end of the credits. After being stuck in their paper bags, the Tank Gang somehow found their way to California and are taken in by the aquarium staff to be rehabilitated. We can only hope that their fate is a nice one and not a nightmare.
Score: Composed by Thomas Newman
I want to talk about the score for a minute. The first films score was and is one of the best soundtracks of all time in my opinion. It made you feel emotional, it felt related to the story and almost makes you cry. While there were elements of this in this films score, it tried some new things, with ocean life sounds and aquarium feelings mixed in there too to create a score that, while it may not be better than the original, it is still fun to listen too in its own right.
Quality of Animation
One of this films strengths came from the quality of its animation. Both the short Piper and this film had tremendous animation. That aquarium, if you remove the cartoon humans and talking fish with the cartoonish eyeballs, it could actually look like a real aquarium. While watching the film, it made me actually want to go to an aquarium. The ocean got an upgrade from the first film. It looked shinier than the first film. The lighting probably helped with that. All the fish felt like you could almost feel the texture to. From the stickiness of the Hank's tentacles to texture of sand on the ocean floor.
Positive Messages
The film launches a ton of great life lessons that everyone can get behind. They may not be as good as Zootopia's, which has the best messages in a film that I've seen so far this year, Finding Dory has nonetheless important to learn. While some of these are not new, others are unique. The first lesson of there always being another way out of something is very positive for kids to learn. Whenever you may find yourself in a difficult situation, it's always important to know that there is another way. The same can be said for what would Dory do. While you probably wouldn't compare yourself to Dory, it's smart to compare yourself to someone who would be very good in your predicament. Other lessons include, the importance of family and how precious family is to ones life is very essential to learn.
Piper Short Review
Before we conclude, I want to talk about the short that plays in front of Finding Dory, which is Piper. Piper is all about a baby bird trying to find a way to be good at getting food, while avoiding the small wave that interrupts him. The baby bird is just so darn cute. The short has no dialogue, and that's good, because sometimes you can tell what someone or something is thinking, without words needed to explain. This was one of those times. The way he comes up with avoiding the challenge that disrupts him from his task, speaks to his willingness to just watch and listen and who knows, maybe you can learn something. Maybe I do a ranking of every Pixar short so far.
Conclusion
So that's my review of Finding Dory, what's yours? Write your opinion in the comments and write what you want to see to come from Dallin: Film Fanatic. Now time to give you a peek into what I'm working on.
Coming Soon
Star Wars: Worst to Best
Superman: Worst to Best
Star Trek: Worst to Best. I have two films to watch before I rank and write.
The Hunger Games: Worst to Best
Harry Potter: Worst to Best
Ten Films That Deserve A Second Look
Top Ten Favorite Princess Films Of All Time (requested by my younger sister)
Top Ten Favorite Romantic Movies Of All Time
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